Multipost lift



l. VON K. HOTT MULTIPosT LIFT March 16, ma?.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1s, 11937.

l. voml K. Ho'r'r A 2,074,148-

MULTIPOST LIFT Filed Aug. 15, 1935 4 She`ets-Sheet 3 h/f--f A TTD/WBKMalik 16 1937. l. voN K. HOTT Filed Aug. 15, 1935 Patented Mar. 16, 1937PATENT Fris.

MULTIPOST LIFT poration of Ohio Application August 15, 1935, SerialNo.36,377

2s claims. (01.254-93) This invention relates to a multi-post lift andis designed primarily for elevating a motor driven vehicle to permitaccess to be had to the underneath parts thereof for servicing the same.Some motor vehicles are substantially heavier at one end than at theother, this being particularly true of busses and trucks and when such avehicle is placed on a multi-post lift, that is, a lift having two ormore lifting elements, the weight of lO'the load will'be unequallydistributed between the lifting `elements with the result that one ormore of the lifting elements will move at a greater speed than the otherelement or 'elements and the vehicle supporting structure will be l5tilted, sometimes to adangerous extent.

One object of the invention is to provide a `multi-post lift with simpleand efficient means for `maintaining the load supporting structure in asubstantially horizontal position, or subgoistantially at apredetermined angle to the hori- Zonta-l, during, the raising andlowering of the load regardless of the distribution of the weight of theload.

A further object of the invention is to provide `sucha lift with meansfor positively preventing any appreciable tilting of the load supportingstructure l A further object of the invention is to provide a multi-postlift with means for causing the lifting elements to move `substantiallyin unison and for causing the distribution of the power to the severallifting elements in proportion to the loads thereon.

A further object of the inventionis to provide 'such a liftin which theexcess power delivered to a lifting element having a relativelylight-load will be transferred to a lifting element having a heavierload.

Other objects of the'invention will appear as the mechanism is describedin detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of an automobile liftof the free wheel type embodying my invention and partly broken away;Fig. 2 is a side elevation of such'a lift; Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view taken through the lifting element to which fluid isinitially delivered and through a portion of one of the cross-members;

i et is a vertical section of one of the other lifting elements, with aportion of the cross membei' in elevation; Fig. V5 isa section'taken onthe line of Fig 3; Fig. 6 is a'section taken on the line -iiof Fig. 3;Fig. 'l is a section taken on the line 'i-l of Fig. 3, showing a portionof rr the cross, member in plan; Fig. 8 is a section "taken onthe line 88 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a lift.

section-taken on thelineS-lof Fig. 8; Fig. 10

is a section takenon the line lil-ii] of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a detailview ofthe cable clamp;,=Fig.

.l2 is a diagrammatic view showing the uid connections betweentheseverallifting elements -5 jFig..13 is adiagrammatio View showingthearrangement of the controlling cable; Fig. v14 is `a plan `view of aportion `of a lift.of the runway :type showinglthe invention appliedthereto; Fig.

l5 is a section "taken on the line |,5--I5 of Fig. `10 lll; Fig. "16 isa section taken fon theline IB--Ii of Fig. .14; Fig..1'7,is atransverseis'ectiontaken on the line l'l-H of Fig. 14; and Fig. `18is;a sideelevation of "a portionof a lift of therunway type.' Y 15 Intheseldrawings Lhave illustrated one .em-

bodiment ofimyinvention, togetherwith'a minor `modification thereof, andhave shown the same as applied to a four. post fluid operatedautofmobilelift but "it will Vbe understood that this `particularembodimenthas been chosen for'the purposes of illustrationonly, that theinvention Amay take various forms and imay be appliedto `lifts ofvarious `kinds comprising two or more lifting elements.

In the four post lift-:here illustrated the lifting elements, or posts,are arranged in pairs near the respectiveends of thellift, the liftingelements f2!) and 2| being arranged at one end of the lift 'loadsupporting structure as a whole. 0

4 The mechanism'as a whole is mounted above `the supporting vsurface sothat no excavation of any kind is necessary for the installation of theThe lifting elements maybe of any suitable character but preferably theyare fluid oper- 45 ated and, as here shown, each lifting elementcomprises a piston 28 which extends upwardly from a base 29 which isadapted to be mounted on and, if desired, rigidly secured to a suitablesupporting surface, such as the licor or pavement of an automobileservice station. Mounted on the piston 28 for vertical movement is acylinder 30 which is closed at its upper end, as shown at 3|, and isprovided near its lower end with suitable `packing 32 to prevent theescape `of fluid between 55 the cylinder and the piston. The interiordiameter of the cylinder is somewhat greater than the exterior diameterof the piston to provide a space through which the fluid may flow fromone end of the cylinder to the other. Arranged within the cylinder is astop 33 adapted to engage a cooperating stop 34 at the upper end of thepiston to limit the movement of the cylinder with relation to thepiston. Stops 33 and 34 are in the form of short segments, the lowersegments 33 being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of thesegments 34 so that by imparting a partial rotation to the cylinder thelatter may be released and removed from the piston.

The cross bars 24 and 25 are connected with the movable members orcylinders of the respective lifting elements and may be secured theretoin any suitable manner. In the arrangement here shown a bracket 35 isrigidly secured to each cylinder and extends laterally and downwardlytherefrom, the inner end 36 of the bracket being shaped to fit about theend of the corresponding cross bar, to which it is rigidly secured, asby welding. The bracket 35 may be attached to the cylinder in variousways and, in the construction shown, the outer portion of the bracket iscurved to fit about the adjacent side of the cylinder and is provided oneach side with lugs 31 and 38 arranged one above the other. The lugs 31are bolted or otherwise secured to cooperating lugs 40 carried by a band4l which extends about the cylinder and is embraced by the bracket 35.The upper lugs 38 of the bracket are secured by bolts, or otherwise, tocooperating lugs 42 which are welded ldirectly to the cylinder. Thecross members 24 and 25 may be of any suitable character but they musthave sufficient strength to jointly support the load on the lift andinasmuch as the vehicle must be driven across one of these supportingmembers in order to place it in position above the rails 26 and 21 andis usually driven across the other supporting member in removing thesame from the lift it is desirable that the cross members should be of alow construction and supported on or close to the supporting surfacewhen the lift is in its lowered position. It is also desirable that theinner and outer walls of these cross members should be sloped tofacilitate the movement of the wheels over the same. In the presentconstruction each cross member is substantially semi-circular in crosssection, see Fig. 8, which not only provides it with the slopingsurfaces but also provides Within the same a channel which is utilizedfor a purpose which will be hereinafter explained. If desired, the crossmember may be reinforced by a plate 43 arranged within the same andwelded or otherwise secured to the respective side walls.

The longitudinal members 26 and 21 may be secured to the cross membersin any suitable manner but in the construction here shown Ythelongitudinal members are in the form of H-bars and I have rigidlymounted brackets 44 on the cross bars, the brackets being preferablywelded.

Each bracket has two projections 45 provided at their upper and loweredges with flanges 46 and spaced apart a distance slightly greater thanthe thickness of the web of the H-bar so that the projections may beinserted in the respective channels of the H-bar as shown in Fig. 9. Thevertical portion of each projection of the bracket is slottedlongitudinally, as shown at 41, and a bolt 48 is passed through theslotted projections and through the web of the H-bar. This bolt has atapered head 49 which engages in the slot of one projection and carriesa tapered washer 50 which engages in the slot of the other projection,the slots being preferably countersunk to receive the head and Washer.Thus by tightening down the bolt the two projections are not onlyclamped tightly against the web of the H-bar but they are expanded toforce the flanges 46 into tight engagement with the upper and lowerflanges of the H-bar.

Fluid under pressure may be delivered to the several lifting elements inany suitable manner but I prefer to deliver all the fluid initially toone lifting element and to distribute the same from that lifting elementto the other lifting elements. Preferably a single supply pipe 5I leadsfrom a suitable source of supply of fluid under pressure, such as areservoir |52, in which oil is stored under air pressure, to one of thelifting elements, in the present instance the element 20. This pipeextends upwardly through the piston and discharges into the cylinderabove the head of the piston. The lifting element 2U is connected witheach of the other lifting elements to provide for the distribution ofthe uid and, in the arrangement shown, cross conduits 52 connect thecylinders of the respective pairs of lifting elements and a longitudinalconduit 53 connects the two cross conduits 52. In this manner thecylinder of each lifting element is connected with the cylinder of eachother lifting element'. The conduits'52 are shown as termi nating inY-fittings 54 which extend partially about the respective cylinders andcommunicate therewith at separated points. When cil or other fluid isrst delivered to the initial cyl inder, of lift 26, it will flowdownwardly between the cylinder and the piston and through the conduits52 and 53 to the other cylinders and when all the cylinders have beenfilled the delivery of additional uid will exert substantially equalpressure on the several cylinders and will tend to move the sameupwardly in unison. After the cylinders have been once lled with fluidthey will remain filled between successive operations and fluid admittedto the initial cylinder will immediately exert pressure on all thecylinders. If the load on one lifting element is lighter than the loadon another lifting element the lifting element having the lighter loadwill tend to move at a greater speed than the lifting element having theheavier load, thus causing the tilting of the load supporting structure,and I have therefore provided means for controlling the relativemovement of the lifting elements and for causing the fluid to bedistributed in proportion to the load on the several lifting elements.

For the purpose of so controlling the relative movements of the liftingelements and the distribution of power I have provided an auxiliary stopdevice which is connected with the several lifting elements and themovement of which is so controlled as to cause said lifting elements tomove in substantial unison. This stop1 device preferably consists of oneor more flexible members which may be of any suitable character and itis herein referred to as a cable. In the preferred construction a singleendless cable is connected with each lifting element and itslongitudinal movement is so controlled as to cause the lifting elementsto move in substantial unison. In the construction shown each liftingelement has secured thereto, near its upper end, a guide, such as apulley 55, and has secured thereto, near its lower end, two guides, suchas pulleys 55 and 51, the lower guides being arranged guide. Otherguides 8l Lare mounted on :the

`cross members :24 and 251between the fendszof the same. A cable P58 is.threaded .about the .several guides onlthe lifting elements andtoni`the buckle 59. This arrangement ofthe `cablenprovides the same, adjacentto each lifting element, with 4an upwardly extendingjportionlwhich islooped about the upper guide VVV55. The two sides of the looped portionof .thecable extend Yabout the respective lower guides .56 andz1'and theintermediaterportions of the cableare carried through thechanneled.'crosslbarsfi24 and and the channeled longitudinal members 26and 2l' to the lower guides of the otherlifting elements. One side ofeach looped portion of the cable is held against movement, asbyanchoring the same to an upright stationary standard Sil which, asshownin-Fig 3, is mounted 'on the base '29 which carries the piston 2B.In the present arrangement, the anchoring means comprises an arm (il`rigidly secured to the standard @d and having a hook-shaped portion 62to receive the cable. A clamping member 63 is connected with the arm`(il by means of a screw 5.64 which forces the same into firm engagementwith the cable. 'As the lifting elements move upwardly in unison thelowerguideswill approach the respective anchors :6| fand the upperguides will move away from those anchors, thus extending the loopsv ofthe cable abovelthe respective anchors. This upwardextension'of the loopis permitted by the feedingfof thelower portion of the anchored side ofeach cable loopto the unanchored side of another cableloop and thereforeone lifting element cannot move `with a speed greater thanthe speed `atwhich the other lifting element moves. For example, when'the liftingelements 2l `and-23tare moving upwardly that portion of the anchoredside of the .cable loop `of lifting element .23 `which passes `'aboutthe guide 56 willbe fed-about the .guides on the cross members and aboutthelower guide 51 4of the lifting element 2| so astosupply additionalcable to the loop of lifting elementzZI and :permit the upper guide ofthat Aelement to move upwardly, but obviously the lifting element .2|can move no fasterthamthe cableis'suppliedto it from the liftingelementx23 andtherefore the two lifting elements will move atthe samespeed. If lifting element 2| carries a lighter load than the liftingelementl'it .willtendto move at a greater speedthanthe'liftingelementwil, dueto `the'fact that fluid powerisnormallysupplied :to

the two lifting elements in equal amounts, but the cable will preventthe lifting element `12| moving at greater speed than the liftingelement 2:3 and the excess fluid which is delivered to fthe liftingelement 2l will `be transferred through the conduits 52 and 53to thelifting element 23, thereby supplyingthat lifting element withadditional power to elevate its heavierload.

The cable will operatein Va similar imanner to cause the several liftingelements'tomovefdownwardly substantially in unison when the load isbeing lowered. Thelowerng Vof the lifting elements is effected by thevweight `:of the load-s thereon and the heavier load on'theLliftingelement 23, in` the example ,above used, will tend :loop of i liftingelement 23.

"to `cause the' same to :move .downwardly :atta greater speed than thelifting element 12| :which Vcarries Vthe lighter load, but'rduring thisdownwardmcvement the cable 58 is moving inea :di-

rection yreverse to that above described :and fit .is .fed zfromthe loopportion- `of the lifting zelement 2l to the anchored portion oftheic'able loop of lifting element 23. Thelower-guides .of .the liftingelement 23 are supportedbyithe cable `and therefore that' liftingelement .can move only asfast as the cable isfedfrom `thelifting element.2! `to `the anchoredportion of 'the :cable In this manner the movement`of ,each lifting element is controlled wby the movements `of the otherlifting elements Vand when :the cable is properly adjusted none ofthelifting elements can have movement .with

relation to the others. vAny:relative:movement of the lifting elementswhich may lresult f from slackin the ,cableor otherwise, will be soslight that `it will cause `no substantialtilting Aof vthe 3 load.supporting structure. which the load supporting structureis normally Inan installationdn inclinedit will be retained at thepre'determined anglethroughout .the operation of the lift.

`Whenthe invention is applied to lalift of :the runway type, that is,toalift 'which is-provided with tracks or runwaysonto which `the wheels`of lthe' vehicle are driven, the only change nec- `essaryis supplyingtheload supporting structure with runways instead` of `with axlesupporting rails. YIf desired, the longitudinal -members .26 andi-21 maybe retained andatlie runways mounted on `the cross members 24 and 5.25.i-However,

`inthe-interest.ofeconomy and'to veliminate unnecessary obstructionsbeneath thetvehicleIzpre- .fer that .the runways should themselvesconstitute `longitudinal `connecting members, thereby .Ienabling theconnecting members 26 `and 21 to abey dispensed with. .Theloadsupp-orting `struc-- Vtur-e is, of course, provided withtwo runways,

one near `each side'thereof, and in I-ligs.` 14 and 1'8 -I have shownonly one of the two' runways.

fthereillustrated the runway 65 is supported at 'its respective ends `onthe crossi members .24 and S125 `and it 'is `provided with alongitudinalrein-v forcing bar 66, secured at its lower side, which isrrigidlysecured at its respective ends to brack- The reinforcing member .66, ishere .vides a channel toreceive theflongitudinal stretch yof thecable58-and thelongitudinal conduit 153. "Usually `the runwayis'providedat itsrespective Aendswith 'rampsll to facilitate the movement of Vthevehicle onto the same.

While I have shown and described one einbodirnent of my invention Iwishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the4:details.thereof as various modifications may oc- :cur'torapersonskilled in the art.

V-lIaving'now fully vdescribed my invention, what .I claim asnew anddesire to secure by Lette-rs Patent is:

L1. Ina multi-post lift comprising at .leasttwo lifting elements spacedone from the other,v a load supporting structure carriedby said `liftingielements, and; meansfor supplying-zpower' to `said :lifting elements, adevicetfor :preventingthefrelative movement of said lifting elementsincluding controlling means having parts connected with the respectivelifting elements for bodily movement with relation thereto, and meanssup- 5 ported independently of said lifting elements and cooperatingtherewith to control the movement of said controlling means withrelation to said lifting elements.

2. In a multi-post lift comprising at least two l0 lifting elementsspaced one from the other, a load supporting structure carried by saidlifting elements, and means for supplying power to said liftingelements, flexible means connected with said two lifting elements forlongitudinal movement with relation thereto and controlled in accordancewith the loads on the respective lifting elements to prevent one liftingelement from moving a greater distance than the other lifting elementmoves.

3. In a multi-post lift comprising at least two lifting elements spacedone from the other, a load supporting structure carried by said liftingelements, and means for supplying power to said lifting elements,flexible means connected with said two lifting elements for longitudinalmovement with relation thereto and controlled in accordance with theloads on the respective lifting elements to prevent a lifting elementhaving a lighter load from moving a greater distance than a liftingelement having a heavier load and to cause excess power supplied to thelifting element having the lighter load to be diverted to the liftingelement having the heavier load.

4. In a multi-post lift comprising at least two lifting elements spacedone from the other, a load supporting structure carried by said liftingelements, and means for supplying power to said lifting elements, acable extending between said two lifting elements, means adjacent toeach lifting element for anchoring said cable to a stationary part, andguides connected with said lifting elements for movement therewith andengaging said cable between the anchored portions thereof, said guidesbeing so arranged with relation to said anchoring means as to cause thetwo lifting elements to move substantially in unison.

5. In a multi-post lift comprising at least two lifting elements spacedone from the other, a

load supporting structure carried by said lifting elements, and meansfor supplying powerl to said lifting elements, a cable extending betweensaid two lifting elements, means adjacent to each lifting element foranchoring said cable to a stationary part, and guides connected withsaid lifting elements for movement therewith and engaging said cablebetween the anchored portions thereof, one of said guides being arrangedabove the anchoring means adjacent to one lifting element and another ofsaid guides being arranged below the anchoring means adjacent to theother lifting element, whereby the first mentioned guide can moveupwardly no faster than the last mentioned guide moves upwardly.

6. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of lifting elements, a loadsupporting structure carried by said lifting elements, means forsupplying power to said lifting elements, upper and lower guidesconnected with one of said lifting elements for movement therewith, alower guide connected with the second lifting element for movementtherewith, a cable having a portion looped about the upper guide of therst mentioned lifting element, means for anchoring one side of said v5cable at a point below said upper guide, the other side of said cableextending about4 the lower guides of both lifting elements, and meansfor anchoring said cable at a point above the lower guide of said secondlifting element.

7. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of lifting elements, a loadsupporting structure carried by said lifting elements, means forsupplying power to said lifting elements, upper and lower guidesconnected with the respective lifting elements for movement therewith,and a flexible controlling device comprising a plurality of sections,each section being anchored to a stationary part adjacent to one of saidlifting elements, extending upwardly from its anchor about the upperguide of that lifting element, then downwardly and about the lower guideof that lifting element, thence about the lower guide of another liftingelement and being anchored to a stationary part above the last mentionedguide.

8. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of lifting elements, a loadsupporting structure `carried by said lifting elements, means forsupplying power to said lifting elements, guides connected with saidlifting elements for movement therewith, a ilexible controlling devicehaving portions extending about the respective guides and movabletherewith, and means for holding said exible device against bodilymovement in the direction of its length.

9. In a multi-post lift comprising four lifting elements arranged at thecorners of a rectangular figure, a load supporting structure carried bysaid lifting elements, and means for supplying power to said liftingelements, a flexible device having parts connected with the respectivelifting elements for movement therewith, and means to control themovements of said parts of said flexible device to prevent one liftingelement being moved a greater distance than another lifting element ismoved.

l0. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of separately movable liftingelements, a load supporting structure carried by said lifting elements,means for supplying power simultaneously to said lifting elements, asingle cable connected with all of said lifting elements for movementthereby in the direction of its length, means for automaticallycontrolling the movement of the cable to cause the same to retard themovement of any lifting element which tends to move at a greater speedthan another lifting element, and means for so connecting said powerapplying means with said lifting elements that excess power will bediverted from said retarded lifting element to said other liftingelement.

11. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of fluid operated liftingelements, a load supporting structure carried by said lifting elements,iiuid conduits connecting said lifting elements one with the other,means for supplying fluid under pressure from a source of fluid supplyto one only of said lifting elements, and means for causing said fluidto be distributed from said one lifting element to the other liftingelements in proportion to the loads on the several lifting elements.

12. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of fluid operated liftingelements, a load supporting structure carried by said lifting elements,means for normally supplying fluid under pressure to said liftingelements, guides carried by and movable with the respective liftingelements, a single cable extending about a plurality of said guides andmovable thereon by the movement of said lifting elements, and means forcontrolling the movement of said cable to .cause the same to' act2,07451481 on said guides to-cause thelifting elements with which saidguides are connected to move in unison.

13. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of fluid operated liftingelements, a` load` supporting structure carried by saidliftingelements,means for normally supplying fluid under pressure to said liftingelements,.guides carried by and movable with'therespective-liftingelements, an endless cable extending about a plurality of said guides,.and means for controlling the movement of said cable to cause-the.lifting elements with whichiit isconnected to move in unison.

14. In` a multi-post. lift, a plurality o-f fluid operated lifting.elements,` a` loadV supporting structure carried by said liftingelements, means for. normally supplying fluid under pressure to saidlifting elements, guides .carried by and movableV with the respectivelifting elements, an endless-cable extending tautly about a plurality ofsaidlguides, portionsLoffsaid cable being movable on said guidesbytheimoyernent` of said lifting elements, andlmeans for holding otherportions of said-cable against movement.

15,. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of fluid operated liftingelements, a load` supporting structure carried' by said liftingelements, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said liftingelements and for-diverting portions of said fluid from one liftingelementto another lifting element, guides carried by and movable withthe respective lifting elements, a single cable extending abouti aplurality of said guides and movable thereon bythe movement of 1saidlifting elements, and-means for` controlling the movement of said cableto cause'tlie same to so act on the lifting elements with which saidguides are connected as to retard the movement of any of said liftingelements which tends to move at a greater speed within anotherof-said-lifting elements and to cause fluid to be diverted from theretarded lifting element to the other lifting element.

16. In a multi-post lift, four fluid operated lifting elements arrangedatthe corners of a rectangularfigure,` aloadsupporting structure carriedby said lifting elements; means for supplying luidiunder pressure tosaid lifting elements normally insubstantially equal amounts and fordiverting portionsof said fluid from one lifting element to anotherlifting element, a guide carried by-and movable witheach liftingelement, a single lcable extending about all four of said guides andmovable thereon by the movement of said lifting elements, and" meansfor'controlling the movement of said cable to cause the same to retardthe movement' of any of said lifting elements which tends to move at agreater speed than another of said lifting elements and to cause fluidto be diverted from the retarded lifting element to said other liftingelement.

17. In a multi-post lift, four fluid operated lifting elements arrangedat the corners of a rectangular ligure, a load supporting structurecarried by said lifting elements, means for supplying fluid underpressure to said lifting elements normally in substantially equalamounts and for diverting portions of said fluid from one liftingelement to another lifting element, a guide carried by and movable witheach lifting element, an endless cable extending about all four of saidguides, portions of said cable being movable on said guides by themovement of said lifting elements, and means for holding other portionsof said cable against movement. Y

18. In a multi-post lift, a plurality of separately movable liftingelements, a load supporting structure carriedVv by said liftingelements, means for supplying; power simultaneously to said liftingelements, guidescarried by the respective lifting.

elements, acable` extending about said guides, and'means for controllingthe movement of said cable to. cause it to resist the movement of onelifting element with relation to another lifting element.

19; In afmulti-postlift, a plurality of separately movable liftingelements, a load supporting structurercarried'by said lifting elements,means for supplying zpowersimultaneously to said lifting elements,a-guide Icarried by eachlifting element, a cable "carried by saidliftingvelements and having portionslooped'about the respective guides,and meansforholding one Side of each looped p0rtion'ofi saidcableagainst movement.

20. In'a multi-post lift, a plurality of separately movableliftingelements, aload supporting structure. carriedbysaidlifting. elements,means for supplyingA power simultaneously to said lifting elements,` anupper-guide and a pair of lower guides carriedlby each lifting element,a cable having portions looped about the respective upper guides, yeachside of each looped portion of said cable1extending about one of thelower guides of that lifting element to the lower guide of Vanotherlifting: element, a stationary member adjacent to each. liftingVelement, and meansfor anchoring one .side'of.eachllooped'portion of saidcable to one of said'` stationary. members.

21. In l.a multi-'post lift, a plurality of fluid operated..liftingelements, a load supporting structure carried by said lifting elements,fluid conduits1 connecting saidlimiting elements one with 4 the`other,.means for supplying fluid under pressure from asource of fluidsupply to one of said;l

lifting"y elements, an upper guide and a pair of lower: guides carriedby each lifting element, a cable having?, portions looped about theupper guidesiof the respective lifting elements, eachside=ofteach;looped.portion of said cable extendingv aboutialower guideof its lifting element to the lower: guide of `another lifting element,a stationarymemberladjacent to each lifting element, andmeans foranchoring Vone side of each looped portion of saidcable to one of` saidstationary members'.

22. In amulti-post lift, a plurality of stationary upright pistons; acylinder mounted on each piston` for verticalmovement with relationthereto, a load supportingV structure carried by said cylin'ders,4vmeansifor 'supplying fluid under pressure touone only ofi saidcylinders, conduits movable with-saidV cylinderstoconduct fluid` fromone duits connecting said lifting elements one with said cylinders toautomatically retard the movement of any cylinder which tends to move ata greater speed than another cylinder and to cause fluid to flow fromthe retarded cylinder to said other cylinder.

23. In a multi-post lift, two pairs of fluid operated lifting elementsarranged near the respective ends of said lift, a load supportingstructure carried by said lifting elements, conduits connecting thelifting elements of each pair one with the other and with the liftingelements of the other pair, means for supplying fluid under pressure toone only of said lifting elements, a single cable connectedpwith theseveral lifting elements and movable therewith, and means forcontrolling the movement of said cable to cause it to retard themovement of any of said lifting elements which tends to move at greaterspeed than another of said lifting elements.

24. In a multi-post lift, two pairs of stationary pistons extendingupwardly from a supporting surface near the respective ends of saidlift, cylinders mounted on the respective pistons for vertical movementwith relation thereto, cross members connecting the lower ends of thecylinders of the respective pairs and arranged to be located close tosaid supporting surface when said cylinders are in their lowermostpositions, a longitudinal member connecting said cross members, conduitsconnecting the cylinders of each pair one with the other and with thecylinders of the other pair, means for supplying fluid under pressure tosaid cylinders, a single cable connected with all of said cylinders andmovable therewith, and means for controlling the lengthwise movement ofsaid cable to cause the same to retard the movement of any cylinderwhich tends to move at a greater speed than another cylinder. 25. In amulti-post lift, two pairs of stationary pistons extending upwardly froma supporting surface near the respective ends of said lift, cylindersmounted on the respective pistons for vertical movement with relationthereto, cross members connecting the cylinders of the respective pairsand arranged to be located close to said supporting surface when saidcylinders are in their lowermost positions, a longitudinal memberconnecting said cross members, said members having longitudinalchannels, conduits extending through said channels and connecting saidcylinders one with the other, a cable extending through said channelsand having portions connected with the respective cylinders, and meansfor controlling the longitudinal movement of said cable to cause thesame to retard the movement of any cylinder which tends to move at agreater speed than another cylinder.

26. In a multi-post lift, two pairs of stationary pistons extendingupwardly from a supporting surface near the respective ends of saidlift, cylinders mounted on the respective pistons for vertical movementwith relation thereto, cross members connecting the cylinders of therespective pairs and arranged to be located close to said supportingsurface when said cylinders are in their lowermost positions, alongitudinal member connecting said cross members, conduits connectingthe cylinders of each pair one with the other and with the cylinders ofthe other pair, means for supplying fluid under pressure to saidcylinders, an upper guide and two lower guides carried by each cylinder,other guides carried by said cross members, an endless cable extendingabout Y the upper and lower guides of each cylinder and about the guidesof said cross members, a stationary member adjacent to each cylinder,and means for rigidly connecting said cable with each stationary member.

27. In a multi-post lift, two pairs of stationary pistons extendingupwardly from a supporting surface near the respective ends of saidlift, cylinders mounted on the respective pistons for Vertical movementwith relation thereto, a bracket secured to the lower portion of eachcylinder, channeled cross members secured to the brackets of therespective pairs of cylinders, a longitudinal member secured to saidcross members, conduits extending through said channeled cross membersand connected with the respective cylinders, a longitudinal conduitconnecting the rst mentioned conduits, means for supplying fluid underpressure to said cylinders, an upper guide and two lower guides carriedby each cylinder, other guides carried by said cross members, an endlesscable extending about the upper and lower guides on said cylinders andabout the guides on said cross members, the transverse portions of saidcable extending through the respective cross members, and means adjacentto each cylinder to hold a portion of said cable against lengthwisemovement.

28. In a multi-post lift, two pairs of stationary pistons extendingupwardly from a supporting surface near the respective ends of saidlift, cylinders mounted on the respective pistons for vertical movementwith relation thereto, a bracket secured to the lower portion of eachcylinder, channeled cross members secured to the brackets of therespective pairs of cylinders, a channeled longitudinal member extendingbetween said cross members, a bracket secured to each cross member andhaving an expansible portion extending into the adjacent end of saidlongitudinal member, means for expanding said portions of said bracketsand securing the same t0 said longitudinal member, conduits extendingthrough said cross members and connected with the respective cylinders,a conduit extending through said longitudinal member and connected withthe first mentioned conduits, means for supplying uid under pressure tosaid cylinders, upper and lower guides carried by each cylinder, otherguides carried by said cross members, an endless cable extending throughsaid channeled members and about the several guides, and means forholding a portion of said cable near each cylinder against lengthwisemovement.

ION VON K ERT HOTT.

